Wild Ozark™

~ Nature Artist in Kingston, Arkansas ~

Blog

No Water

This morning I turned on the faucet to put some water on my toothbrush.

Nothing but a few drops came out. Then, nothing. No water.

No Water

My thoughts immediately led to the question in my mind, which was “Where … Read the rest “No Water”

1 July 2016
Homestead Work

We’ve been busy doing a lot of outdoor homestead work since we came home from our gold panning trip to Colorado. That’s why there’s been no recent posts from me.

The weather has been atrociously hot and I’m just too … Read the rest “Homestead Work”

27 June 2016
Panning for Gold in the Rockies

One of Rob’s lifelong dreams, panning for gold in the Rockies, has been fulfilled.

After finding out how relatively affordable such a thing can be, we bought mining rights to a small claim, sight unseen except for photos, in the … Read the rest “Panning for Gold in the Rockies”

17 June 2016
Gold in them thar hills? Ozarkians in the Rockies

I doubt there’s any gold in them thar hills of the Ozarks. Right now, though, we’re on a prospecting mission in the Rockies.

Part of my soul lives out there where the mountains are a mile and more high. However, … Read the rest “Gold in them thar hills? Ozarkians in the Rockies”

14 June 2016
Avoiding Burnout: Fun Days at Wild Ozark

Avoiding Burnout

Anyone who has ever tried to build a homesteading life will know it’s a tremendous amount of work. So we also work at avoiding burnout.

The list of things on the “to do” list is so long, our … Read the rest “Avoiding Burnout: Fun Days at Wild Ozark”

31 May 2016
Busy Burning Coffee Days at Wild Ozark

My efforts at multitasking yesterday ended with flames, billowing smoke and the awful scent of burnt coffee beans. Surprisingly, I did not stop to get a picture of this event to document it for this post. At first there weren’t … Read the rest “Busy Burning Coffee Days at Wild Ozark”

16 May 2016
A Wild Roast Coupon for Mother’s Day

Let the Wild Roast begin!

Oh yeah 🙂 I’m getting ready this morning for a full day of aromatic and sumptuous coffee roasting. Mmmmmm-Mmmmmmmm all the locals will soon get to try some of our delicious Wild Roast.

We’ll have
… Read the rest “A Wild Roast Coupon for Mother’s Day”

5 May 2016
Cedar-Apple Rust : Invasion of Alien-looking Fruiting Bodies

Cedar-Apple Rust

Yesterday we went out to check on ginseng seedlings and found the cedar trees blooming with Cedar-Apple Rust fruiting bodies. It’s caused by a fungus and alternates each year on cedars or apple trees. If there aren’t any … Read the rest “Cedar-Apple Rust : Invasion of Alien-looking Fruiting Bodies”

29 April 2016
Photos of Plants – Medicinal & Useful plants down the Wild Ozark Driveway

I’m still mostly stuck in the house because of my knee (dislocated it a little over a week ago) but I took the four-wheeler and camera down the driveway to get a few photos of plants unfurling or coming into … Read the rest “Photos of Plants – Medicinal & Useful plants down the Wild Ozark Driveway”

25 April 2016
Ginseng in May

I’m drawing a sketch of a 4-prong American ginseng from a photo I took last year in May. The sketch will be titled “Ginseng in May”.

My First Show Entry

This drawing will be displayed (and will be for sale) … Read the rest “Ginseng in May”

18 April 2016
Update from Wild Ozark

Lots of things going on – or rather, NOT going on lately.

If you’re a subscriber to my monthly newsletter, you’ve probably already seen the update that I won’t be doing the farmer’s market this year. I forgot to … Read the rest “Update from Wild Ozark”

17 April 2016
Chasing Windmills and Wildflowers in South Texas

My past week has been filled with family and friends in Louisiana and Texas. While in Texas I got the notion to gather a collection of photos of the old windmills that are out there. Most of these are in … Read the rest “Chasing Windmills and Wildflowers in South Texas”

14 April 2016
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) Unfurling

The blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) is awake early this spring. I found some the other day, in three different stages of unfurl.

The one completely unfurled is in a pot in the nursery area, the other two are in the … Read the rest “Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) Unfurling”

29 March 2016
How to move a round bale without a hay spike by using the front-end loader instead.

I’ve been using a chain with the tractor and front end loader to move round bales to the horses. We don’t have a hay spike or fork attachment.

This how-to assumes you have a tractor with a front end loader … Read the rest “How to move a round bale without a hay spike by using the front-end loader instead.”

26 March 2016
Dirt Road Photos – Ozark Sunset Silhouettes

Scene from the dirt road in the Ozarks of northwest Arkansas.

The Ozarks from a Scenic Dirt Road

I was driving home from my daughter’s house this evening as the sun began setting on our beautiful Ozark hills. Just so happened … Read the rest “Dirt Road Photos – Ozark Sunset Silhouettes”

20 March 2016
To-Do – All the Various & Odd Things on the List for March

The To-Do list today started out pretty clear cut. The plan was to get an early start into town. I need more potting soil, a few groceries, and feed for the horses. That plan was nixed when I woke up … Read the rest “To-Do – All the Various & Odd Things on the List for March”

11 March 2016
The First Flowers of Spring at Wild Ozark

Nature lovers began the frenzy of watching for the first flowers of spring a few weeks ago. Here at Wild Ozark, we’re in a little eco-microcosm that is often more than a week behind surrounding areas in spring. Our temperatures … Read the rest “The First Flowers of Spring at Wild Ozark”

9 March 2016
Stone Tool – Relic of a Long Bygone Era

I knew when I saw the rounded hand-sized rock that it was more than “just a rock”. It was a stone tool, & probably several thousand years old.

There is something special about holding a stone I know once was … Read the rest “Stone Tool – Relic of a Long Bygone Era”

5 March 2016
Coyotes at Midnight

I had trouble getting to sleep last night. Then there were coyotes at midnight, just as the drift of dreams was beginning to take hold. It went on for so long I had time to turn on the audio recorder … Read the rest “Coyotes at Midnight”

23 February 2016
What is the “back burner”, really?

Back Burner

You’ve probably referred to projects you’ve put on hold as being “on the back burner”. I understood what the phrase meant, and had used it often myself, but when we got our new/old cook stove, I learned how … Read the rest “What is the “back burner”, really?”

17 February 2016
Delve Deeper to Observe Nature

Take a moment from your day and delve deeper to observe nature. You’ll gain a sense of awe and wonder.

Delve deeper

Truly experience that moment. If it’s a plant you’re observing, reach out and touch it (be reasonable – … Read the rest “Delve Deeper to Observe Nature”

13 February 2016
Repairing Our Wild Ozark Spring Water Line

Today I repaired our Wild Ozark spring water line

Since I’ve learned how to do this myself, I figured I’d do it while Mr. Wild Ozark was at work. Later this summer we have plans to change out the entire … Read the rest “Repairing Our Wild Ozark Spring Water Line”

11 February 2016
A Muck Boot and Pj Kind of Day

I didn’t feel like getting out of bed this morning. It was cold in the room when I woke and I just felt lazy. But the hens clucked louder as the minutes ticked past.

I knew the dogs and horses … Read the rest “A Muck Boot and Pj Kind of Day”

10 February 2016
A problem in our gravity feed spring water system

What is a gravity feed water system?

We are fortunate to have our very own spring fed water source that runs all year long. It is a spring that pumps out enough water, without fail, to serve our household with … Read the rest “A problem in our gravity feed spring water system”

7 February 2016
Kings River Falls – Photos from our hike

On Sunday I went hiking with my two oldest children and their children, one of my daughter’s friends and her children, and my parents to the Kings River Falls. This trail is a little north and east of Fallsville, AR … Read the rest “Kings River Falls – Photos from our hike”

2 February 2016